Counting mechanism



June 16, 1936. H. N, BLISS COUNTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 10,

A III gvvaentoz June 16, 1936. BLISS 2,044,200 I COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 10, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v gwmzhtpz ZRVVBL Patented June 16, 1936 PATENT OFFICE COUNTING MECHANISM Harvey N.. Bliss,- Hartford, Conn, assignor to Veeder-Root, Incorporated, a corporationof Connecticut Application January 10, 1930, Serial N'o. 419,934

SClalms.

My invention relates to counting-mechanisms.

It has for its object to provide an improved counting mechanism and more particularly such an improved mechanism especially adapted to 5 count accurately all of the ribbon advancing strokes of a typewriter, tabulator, bookkeeping machine, or the like. A further object is toprovide such a. counter wherein irrespective of differences in the length of the strokes-of the different 10 keys and of the space bar, or a variation in the touch of different operators, an accurate count is obtained. A still further object of my invention is to provide such a mechanism in which the load placed on the keys or space bar is minimized 15 in such manner as to reduce the effort required on the part of the operator using the machine.

Other objects of my invention are to provide such I an improved mechanism which is adapted to be easily installed and operatively connected to an 20. operating part of the machine without disturbing the machine adjustments or altering the machine, and which'further in its various forms is adapted to be applied to a wide range of machines and. to be economically manufactured. These 25 and other objects and advantages of my improved construction will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have shown for I purposes of illustration several embodiments 3 which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings y v Figure l is a front view of one form of my improved mechanism shown in position on a typewriter or tabulator, only the supporting and actuating connecti us of the machine being shown. Figure 2 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1 with the machine frame shown in section. a

. Figure 3 is an enlarged partial side view of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial side view similar 2? Figure 3, but showing the parts in another posi- Figure 5 is a detail view looking in' the direction of the arrows 55 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through the counter clutch mechanism.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view through view being taken on a line l--"I of, Figure 6.

Figure '8 is a similar sectional view on line 88- of Figure 6 showing the ratchet clutch mechanism.

55 Figure '9 is a front view similar to Figure 1,

g 1 Figure 11 is an enlarged partial side view of the ball clutch mechanism included therein, the

the structure shown in Figure when viewed from the opposite side.

Figure 12 is an enlarged partial side view simiiar to Figure 11, but showing the parts in another position. I v 5 Figure 13 is a front view similar to Figure l, but showing a further modified construction.

Figure 14 is a side view'of the structure shown in Figure 13, thedotted lines showing another position of the parts and certain of the parts be- 10 ing shown in section.

Figure 15 is a plan .view of the structure shown in Figures 13 and 14.

In all of these forms of my invention, although the latter in certain of its phases is not limited 15 thereto, I prefer to use a counter of the type disclosed in U. 8. Patent 1,873,079 invented by C. H. Veeder and having actuating mechanism including combined ratchet actuating and friction retaining mechanism, since I find that my combination of such a counter with the key or space bar operated mechanism of a machine such as a typewriter, tabulator, or the like enables new and advantageous results to be obtained in the art of counting the ribbon advancing strokes of such machines.

Referring first to this counter mechanism per se, it will be noted that the same is herein carried in a suitable casing I, having a usual reading 1 aperture 2 through which a series of rotatable numeral wheels 3 are visible in a usual manner. These wheels, 3 are also operatively connected in a usual manner through mechanism (not shown) so that they will be actuated successively upon predetermined operations of a protruding axial shaft 4. As usual in this Veeder type of counter, an actuating arm or lever B is also carried by the reduced outer end of the shaft 4,

and a combined ratchet and ball clutch mechanism is provided between the lever I and the shaft 4.

More particularly considering the Veeder combined clutch mechanism which is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, it will be noted that the lever 5 is carried on a squared hub 0 on an internally toothed member 1 rotatable on the reduced outer end of the shaft I and 'adapted to co-operate with internal radially disposed pawls 8 pivotally mounted on an intermediate member 9 and normally held in engagement with the teeth on the member I by springs l0 likewise carried on the intermediate member. As shown, this intermediate member 9 is also preferably fitted on a polygonal'portion H on the shaft 4 inside the reduced end thereof. Associated with this ratchet clutch mechanism is also co-operating ball clutch retaining mechanism. This includes a series 'otballs I! received in the opposite face of the intermediate member 9 and pressed out by coil springs l3. These'balls engage with cam surfaces I on a co-operating member I! which is also fixed upon the-polygonal portion ll of the shaft 3, while the balls are also supported in position by a plate It in a usual manner and in their retaining position ensase a retaining cup" I1 fixed to the counter casing. It will thus be evident that at each oscillation of the lever B, the shaft 3 will receive through the driving pawl clutch including the member 1, pawls 3 and intermediate member 9, an advance movement through a definite division of a complete movement of rotation, and, also, that after each such advance movement, it will be retained in its advanced position during the next backward movement of the actuating lever 5 by the immediate engagement of the balls with the retaining cup In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, it will be noted that such a counter as described has its reading aperture 2 disposed substantially at 45 degrees to a depending bracket portion 20. This bracket 20 in turn is attached by suitable screws 2! to an upstanding portion 22 of a bracket 23 which also has an upstanding lower end fixed to the machine frame 23 by suitable screws 23, and an interme diate inclined portion 26 underlying the counter and herein substantially spaced below the same. It will also be noted that the portion 22 of the bracket is provided on the side adjacent the lever 5 with spaced lugs 21 forming a notch 28 between them in which the free end of the lever 5 is movable within the maximum limits established by the lugs; Herein the latter are spaced apart sufflciently to allow the lever 5 to travel far enough for the pawls I to pick up one tooth of the ratchet member 1 but not far enough to pick up two teeth. Thus, it will'be noted that the counter is advanced a predetermined fraction of a unit, herein a tenth, upon each oscillation of the memher. I between the lugs 21, it being understood that a usual form of counter is used which is geared in any suitable ratio, herein to register flve figures for a complete revolution so that, when operated by a flity toothed ratchet, it accordingly counts one for every ten teeth of the ratchet. Pivotally connected to the lever 5 at a point between its axis and the lugs 21 herein more closely-adjacent the latter, is also an operating member 20 which is operatively connected to a part of the machine movable with each operative stroke, 1. e. of any ribbon advancing stroke such as the printing keys or the space bar through mechanism hereinafter described.

- Considering this latter mechanism more specifically, it will be noted that the member 29 hasa lateral extension 33 on its lower end which is received in a vertically elongated slot 3| in the outer end of an arm 32, the opposite end of which isinturnsuitablyattachedasbyascrewflto the usual spring returned ribbon ieed shaft 34 of the machine. The member 23 is thus adapted tobedepressedmanuallywhenanykeyorthe space bar of the machine is operated, and auto- ,matically elevated bythe machine.

It will further be noted thatthe slot 3| isdisposed transversely of the arm 32 and lengthwise of the memher 23. The latter also carries intermediate its receives the extremity of the portion '33 projecting-through the arm 32. On its upper end the;

'clip 35 also has a lateral extension 31 projecting out over the end of the'member 32 and connected thereto by a light coiled spring38 normally operative to cause portion 30 to remain at the bottom of the slot 3|. 5

- Considering the operation of the device it will be evident that upon the actuation of any key or the space bar, the member 32 will be oscillated in such manner as to cause the lever 5 to be moved between the lugs 21, for example, from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4, each time that this member 32 is moved downward by the depression of a key or the space bar. This movement of the member 32 will be transmitted through the spring 38 to the member 29, and thereby cause the lever 3 to swing downward, whereas, after each stroke, the parts will be automatically returnedunder the action of the" spring returned ribbon feed shalt 34 to the position indicated in Figure 3, the arm 32 acting directly on the portion' of member 29. Here, it will also be noted that the downward movement of the lever 5, merely requires dragging of the pawls over the ratchet. On the other hand, the upward stroke, which herein is the registering stroke, and thus requires more power, is effected by the power of the machine as the latter automatically raises the arm 32. Thus, efiort on the part of the op- 0 orator is minimized while the actual work is done by the machine, the spring for returning the key or space bar operated mechanism ordinarily having suflicient excess power to operate the counter without change. Further, duekto my improved construction, only such a small portion, estimated at five percent, of the excess power of the ribbon feed of the machine is required to operate the counter on its registering stroke as to be well within the margin of safety required by that mechanism. It will also be observed that ii the 40 operator strikes a key hard, or if any key or other connected part has a longer stroke, the member 32, by reason of the slot 3|, has a limited free movement relative to the portion 30 of the memher 29. At the same time, it will be noted that, upon the engagement of the lever 5 with the bottom lug 21, the operation of the machine is in no way hindered, a full operation of the ribbon feed shaft instead being permitted. Attention is also directed to the rm that the member :2 during its automatic upward movement, engages and positively lifts the member 29 to effect the return or registering stroke, and to the further fact that this registering stroke being thus effected by .the machine, it is always the same. Thus, irrespective of how hard the keys are struck or of the inertia of the parts, there is no danger of an overthrow of the pawls. It will also be, evident v that by the use of my over-travel structure in the connection between the counter and the machine, in conjunction with the positive stops provided by the spaced lugs, an accurate count is assured automatically and without need for a compensating adjustment, regardless of the varying stroke inherent-in the machine. Further, the spring 38 co-operates with the usual spring, not shown, which automatically returns the shaft 34, and assists the latter in returning the arm 32 to its initial or up position during that part of any stroke in which the arm 32 has moved beyond the limit imposed on lever 5 by the lower stop 21. In my improved construction, I have also taken advantage of the single dragging over operation of the-pawls and of the shorter stroke required limited amount of motion and power available,

in a counter of the type having a combined ratchet actuating and ball retaining clutch, and so combined such a counter with the key stroke operated mechanism of a machine such as a typewriter or the like, which inherently has a very that the load upon the keys is minimized and that the smaller amount of power required for registering is supplied by the machine either from power stored when the carriage is shifted, or from the excess power available in the key or space bar operated mechanism. It will of course also be evident that due to my improved construction of counter actuating and controlling means, my improved mechanism wili register accurately on each operative stroke on the machine. It will also be evident that it is adapted to do this despite variations in stroke of any of the stroke operated parts of a particular machine, as, for example, where the keys, or certain or. the same, and the space bar have strokes of different length, the operation of any of these resulting in the operation of the same automatically returnable member on the machine. Attention is also directed to the fact that my improved mechanism is also adapted to accurate operation despite the fact that this member may have operative strokes of different length. Thus it will be evident that the mechanism is adapted to produce accurate results not only when applied to any given machine, but when applied on different machines having diilerent characteristics, and also when a given machine or various different machines are operated by different operators each having a wholly 'diiferent touch. It will further be noted that through the use of a combined ratchet actuating and ball retaining clutch it is made possible ,to eliminate the inaccuracy inherent in a friction actuating clutch when wear occurs, which would completely destroy the eilectiveness of the whole device as a counting means for counting the operative strokes of a writing machine. Moreover, it is also possible to eliminate any inherent inaccuracy in a ratchet retaining clutch capable of a slight subtraction before each retaining action. It is also possible to eliminate all necessity for the minute accuracy in locating the counter on the bracket with respect to the notch in the latter which serves as stop means for the lever B, which would be required if a ratchet retaining clutch were used instead of the ball retaining clutch. Thus the holes in the bracket for attaching the counter need be tapped only in approximate location with respect to the notch in the bracket, and the notch itself need not be minutely accurate, provided it is of a proper size to allow the lever B to travel far enough for the pawls to pick up one tooth of the ratchet member I, butnot far enough to pick up two teeth. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, beclearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

Referring to the modification shown in Figures 9 to 12, it will be noted that the structure is essentially similar to that previously described. Here, however, it will be noted that, whereas in the first construction the frame of the counter unit was disposed at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees to its bracket, in this construction the same is disposed at right angles to the bracket. The latter'is also provided with oppositely extending vertically disposed projections 40 which carry screws 4| extending therethrough than the screws are provided in the frame, and 5 that an adjustable stop plate is disposed between the bracket and the frame, and provided with slotted ends 46 adapted to permit adjustment relative to the screws 4i. This plateis also provided at right angles to its body with lugs 10 41 forming a notch 41a for the lever 5. It will also be noted that instead of a short member pivoted at one end, such as the member 32, an elongated member 48, corresponding to the member 32 and likewise automatically returned by 15 the machine, is provided. This member 48 is pivoted at 49 substantially midway between its ends and beneath the support ill for the frame member 42, and also pivotally connected at its innerend at II to the escapement mechanism of '3 the machine operative with each key stroke or space bar stroke. It will here also be noted that the pivot 49 is carried on a bracket 52 supported beneath the portion in any suitable manner and attached to the machine frame as by screw 25 v I As regards the operation of this modified structure, it will be evident that it is essentially similar to that previously described. It will also be observed that in this construction, besides 30 serving as an over-travel connection, the spring ll is especially effective in helping to return the member 48 to its upper position, if, as is apt to be the .case the member 48 has exceeded the range of movement of the counter lever 5. At- 35 tention is, moreover, directed here to the fact that in this construction an adjustment is obtainable by sliding the notched plate 45 up or down to take care of any variations in different machines when attaching the counter to the 49 machine. It will also be noted that this adjustment is made possible by the use of the ball retaining clutch and that such an adjustment would be impossible. if a ratchet retaining clutch were used in lieu thereof since then an accurate 45 fixed location of the plate in angular relation to the retaining pawl of the counter would required.

In the modified construction shown in Figures 13 to 15, it will also be noted that while funda-,E0

mentally the same construction is provided, the

same distinguishes from those heretofore described in certain'particulars. In this construction the bracket and counter is essentially the same as that heretofore described, but a diiferent 55 support is provided between the bracket and themachine frame. More particularly, the counter bracket is attached by screws 6| to a bracket member 62 carrying an upstanding projetion 63 having lugs 64 thereon forming a lever notch 65, 60

and also having an angular disposed portion 66 and a connected end portion 61 which is suitably attached to the machine frame 68 by screws such as the screw 69. Also, as regards the actuating connection for the member 29 it will be noted that the latter member is connected to the free end of a twisted clip member 10 having its other end bent over as indicated at ll and attached as by a screw I2 to a spring biased rock shaft 73 of the machine which is rocked against its bias upon 7 operation of any key or of the space bar. In this construction itwill also be noted that the spring 38 has its point of connection of the member ll spaced farther from the slot Ii than in the previous constructions, it being found that this angu- 75 space bar actuated it will be evident. I 10 that I have providedapewcoiphinationotdounter driveand operating mechanism capable of being readily a t ched te'ggnuni u in hes, or y -X. writers, tabulators ,booldreeping'. machines,

- of which there" are iarg e -number1ot different types in use, and without thenicety, of adjustment hi herto r quiredinlbea inst e cou er onihe machinerelative t illctmovable magazine.part,av

for .act'uatin'g it. Moreoverit wilbbe evident between the. combined pawl and {notion clutch mechanism 01 the counter an g ll cherracter key operated part or part to the lost motion operati linkage pro-' vided for connecting thecounter operating leverto these various radically dmerentQ'mEghine ele ments. This new combination pi countervdrive the applicant is aware. for the. first time enabled a commercially practicable keystroke "counter mechanism to be produced for the trade which is of universal adaptability, the countermecha-' nisms hitherto in use being useless except in connection with a machine.

While! have in appncati nscecmcailv de scribed three terms or mvinse tioa, it will be understood that theseiorms oi' the same are shown for illustrative-purposes, and that 40 structure may be and the i nve ntion em} bodied in other fo ms withoutdeparting from its; spirit or the scope oi'jthc appendedclaims.

What I claim as new andk iesire to secure Letters Batentim-e' tween it and one 0! said elements and a resilient" bed-said connection being operative on movement of said'second element, in one direction to move said first element yieldingly in one direction through said resilient member from one of its travel limits to the other, with said resilient mem bcr permitting overtravel or said second element, and said element which has lost motion operating relation with said transmitting member and said transmitting member being engageable to return said arm element from said other travel limit to said first mentioned limit.

2. actuating mechanism for a counter applied to a key operated writing machine-and having-a' swinging operating element in its travel in both directions, said mechanism com-- prising in transmitting connection between said element and an actuating reve'rsely movableelement of the including a transmitting and operating linlragethereiilljl has. so far as l. Actuating mechanism ioracounter applied 7 member associated with said transmitting memmember having-lost motion pivotal connection with said hey actuated element. and a resilient pull member, said connection being operative on movement ofsaid second element in one direction tomove saldiirst element y ldingly in one direc- 5 tion through said resilient pull member from one io it's'travel limits to the other. with said pull permitting overtravel oi said second element. and said transmitting member being operable by engagement said second element, n reve rse movement of said element, to first element from said other travel limit to saidmentioned limit.

iehctuating mechanism for a counter applied to a hey operated writing machine and having a 1 swinging arm element limited in its travel said mechanism comprising a connecting linkage between said arm element and an actuthat the marked, adaptability of my invention to f difl'erent machine of at?" tachment are in part due to thenovielcponeratibn sting operated element or the machine, said having a slotted pivotal connection permitting'lost motion in the actuation of said arm element in one direction. and a spring interthe palrts having said slotted pivotal a yielding connection tor actuating saldarm element in id directionand-permittingovertravel or said cond e t 1 4; actuating for a counter applied o ajkey WMWQDMIHG and having a travel. said mechanism comprising a non-extensible'linh'connected at'one'end to said arm elemen ind at the other end a lost 'motion pivotal connection with a swinging reversely operase elqmen'tot machine which provides lostfm l nlongitudinally of said link, and a spring connecting last named element with saidlinh'n yielding pull connec- 'tion between link and said last named element.

5. jActuating mechanism for a counter applied to a key operated writing machine and having a win in operating arm'elernent limited in its "jtrsvelj said mechanism comprising a connecting member between said element and a reversely movable element oi! the machine, said last named element having a slot extending substantially longitudinally of said connecting member and into whichvsaid extends, and resilient means connectingsaidconnectingmember andsaidlast named element and constantly urging said connecting member into engagement with the remotee'nd of said slot.

v. 6. Actuating mechanism for a counter applied to a key operated writing machine and having a swinging operating arm element limited in its travel. said mechanism comprising a rod plvotally connected to said first named element and having 'one.end pivoted in a slot in a reversely movable element of the machine, said 'slot disposed longitudinally of said rod, a clip carried on said rod adjacent said-last named element having a depending portion through which the pivoted end of rod extends, and a spring connecting said clipwiththe adjacent end of said last named elementsnd constantly urging the pivoted end of said rod into engagement with the remote end 0! said, slot permitting over-travel or said element relative to said rod in one direction while providing for positive operation of said arm ele- 7 ment by saidrodzin the opposite direction.

"arm element limited in its 30, 

